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cowgirlcherrie · 9 months

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☆ WISHFUL THINKING. loser! sbf! ellie williams headcanons

♪ 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠…wishful thinking by benee

a/n: here are just some quick head-canons of loser ellie, ellie is best friends with the readers sister, basically like bbf! ellie but girls girl coded dynamic.

warnings/content: 18+ MDNI. a nsfw section. breeding kink. switch!ellie. kissing. petname usage. ellie is so loser…LOL but it intertwines with canon ellie. cursing. dirty talking. finger sucking. edging. mostly toothrotting fluff for the first section

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౨ৎ loser! Ellie owns an obscure amount of graphic tees with silly slogans on them:

“I ♡ HOT MOMS” or “I ♡ MILFS” or “BIG DICK IS BACK IN TOWN”

** I can’t find the post but one of my mutuals had an exact post of how she would dress…adam sandler core fr

When she gets complimented on them, she does not know how to take a compliment. When you found one of the slogans funny, your hands delicately intertwined with the fabric of her shirt as you tugged the fabric — with your phone hovering over the bolded text to take a picture – Ellie was sweating bullets beneath your touch.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie dismissed you the first time that the two of you met; she moved like a shadow whenever you were around; if you were talking in the kitchen, she would completely walk out of the room and just avoid the area. At first, you thought Ellie stopped coming around and being friends with your sister until you actively caught her turning on her heels and just heads in another direction.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie goes to your college and is a year above you but you didn’t know she was going to JSU (Jackson state university) because you thought she was planning on community, so it was a shocker to see her around campus because she actually would say hi to you or sit and chat if she wasn’t with Dina or Jesse.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie is obsessed with Jurassic Park and owns all of the DVD collections. She even has posters up on the wall that is stills from the movie and ones she was able to find with a deep dive online *cough* Reddit *cough* Facebook marketplace *cough*

Frequently she tried to get your sister into it who gets sick of her asking– but kept on nagging at Ellie to ask you instead, and with many dab pen hits and a quick pep talk in the bathroom, Ellie built up enough courage to ask you to watch it with her.

The two of you bonded over having crushes on Ellie Sattler which was the first time that Ellie realized that you liked girls and she might have a shot with you.

“It’s even better to watch when you’re high because the dinosaurs are all like-…woahh”

౨ৎ loser! Ellie enjoys it’s always sunny in Philadelphia and parks and recreation, and would definitely enjoy emergency intercom or just podcast-y youtube channels

౨ৎ loser! Ellie sucks at eye contact, whenever you start talking to her she rubs at the back of her neck, and looks at her feet, twirling the necklace that’s tucked closely to her skin and her shirt. She just doesn’t stop fidgeting. Her face gets all red but she plays it off that Joel kept on turning the heater on when there was no need for it.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie wears flat-brim vintage hats, especially some with corduroy fabric, and apart from her standard arm tattoo gets silly patchwork ones, like one of a drawing she did for Joel. Has a lot of rings and especially enjoys the spinny ones.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie who collects Savage Starlight comics, as always, is surprised when you tell her you found some copies in the bookstore that was actually going to get thrown away but you bargained with the owner to buy the barrel of the books because you knew she would like to have them. She gets all flustered when she realizes that you were thinking of her and it brings the craziest smile to her fast that you took enough time to remember such minuscule detail about her.

“Do you– uh- do you want me to pay you back?”

౨ৎ loser! Ellie wakes up late all the time when she sleeps over at your house like I’m talking 11-12:30 pm and will walk around the house with messy hair, a large t-shirt and boxers, and dry drool patch on her mouth and down her cheek until she realizes she had been watched for the past few minutes by you who was scared shitless because you didn’t even she spent the night.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie in traditional Ellie fashion uses cursing as a coping mechanism when she gets nervous and doesn’t know what to say:

“I don’t fuckin’ know ask your sister”

“That’s fuckin cute… I guess”

“Oh – Fuck you!”

౨ৎ when your sister started this thing every two weeks where there is a girl’s night, she’d invite Ellie over for a sleepover and the sleepless night would be full of gossip, painting each other’s nails, drinking cheap wine that Ellie got from the gas station down the way — primarily a self-care night, it takes a lot of convincing to get Ellie to join in but once she does, she regrets it slightly. However, she tolerates it because she can use it as an excuse just to see you and learn about what is up with your life or if you started seeing anyone.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie who bitches and cries when she has a facemask on, and is hissing and spewing curses under her breath every few minutes, with a fluffy headband on that is pushing her auburn hair back, begging you to take it off; meanwhile, you are applying a clear coat on her nails because she would complain about any other color but she keeps tensing up.

“Ow! What the fuck is in this…it hurts, take it off! Take it off!”

౨ৎ loser! Ellie when the summertime rolled around, meant she would be spending way more time with you and your sister – eventually, your sister goes to the locksmith and get Ellie her own key. Ellie will be indulging in pool days with you which is a recipe for disaster

She is tripping all over the place, and terribly applied sunscreen on her face which cast a slight ghostly white cast on her face, adding to how stunned she was to see you in a swimsuit, but she couldn’t look away and caught herself wandering her eyes to places she probably shouldn’t have.

Underwater kiss! Underwater kiss!

But she tries to play it off and acts like it never even happened the next day. But when Ellie closed her eyes all she could feel was your wet lips on hers, as the two of you were grabbing at each other and the way for a second time slowed down and all she could feel was the movement of the water and your hands on her skin.

When she applied sunscreen wrong and asks you to fix it for her, gets so embarrassed as you rub your hands over her face to moisturize the sunscreen into her face, but every time she opens her eyes she just sees the view of your boobs in the bikini you are wearing and just squeezes her eyes shut. Visibly pretends to bite her fist when you’re done

౨ৎ loser! Ellie 100% asking strangers on Reddit how to confess for you with crazy ass headlines,

F(22) IN LOVE WITH MY BEST FRIEND'S SISTER F(21) ADVICE? If a girl’s arm lingers on you for too long does it mean she likes you? (F) Good pick-up lines that aren’t cringy for gays only…please How much does astrology and birth chart compatibility really matter?

౨ৎ loser! Ellie splits her sandwiches with you and gives you a jacket when you are cold because even though she asks you a million times and you said no each time she asked. She still brings a jacket just for you — and how she would scold you for not bringing one. (all out of love though)

“You fucker! I knew you would be cold, see this is why I said to bring a jacket”

Pretends to be angry but really she was waiting for this moment.

Eventually, you build a collection, having 3 of Ellie’s jackets in your room, which was Ellie’s subtle excuse to be able to talk to you.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie doesn’t hesitate to pick you up from an on-campus party, and her heart shatters when you are crying because you had a shitty night and you don’t want her to tell your sister. Takes you to whatever fast food is open at that hour even if that means she’d have to drive 30 minutes extra just to make you smile.

“Shh…sweetheart terrible nights happen it’s okay”

“Are you hungry?…cuz’ like I’m fuckin hungry” Ellie whispers amidst a thick awkward silence, mentally cringing and wanting to bang her head on the steering wheel as she grips the wheel until her knuckles turn white.

Suddenly becomes good with comforting people when it comes to you, but anyone else – the spinny wheel of death appears above her head as she struggles to formulate a good sentence.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie who hates when you bring up anyone you start talking to or that you are going out with, will sit there with her fist tight and jaw clenched whispering to you:

“There are people who can treat you way better”

And by people she really means herself.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie who set off the fire alarm once by accident because she was hotboxing in her room with Jesse and Dina and almost got a dean’s office summons and tried to blame it on the neighbors next door.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie when Ellie tells your sister that she likes you, your sister makes the most disgusted face at her, but becomes Ellie’s wing-woman and kinda tells Ellie all of your likes and dislikes, which Ellie has a whole page in her journal with facts about you.

“can I have your blessing to uh…date your um, fuck sorry your sister?”

“ellie please shut up I’m gonna throw up”

౨ৎ loser! Ellie has pictures of michael cera as her icons on every form of social media.

౨ৎ loser! Ellie gets flustered easily over indirect kisses, like sharing food or sharing drinks, and suddenly she becomes so hyperaware.

nsfw 𖦹⋆彡🫧꩜♪⋆

౨ৎ When Ellie started having more than just friendly feelings for you…her whole demeanor changed, the tension was so thick it could cut with a sharp knife. Subtle touches suddenly had more meaning and her body felt like someone lit a match with gasoline dripping from her body and set her aflame.

౨ৎ after an accidental confession that leads to the two of you dating, lewd thoughts from the shadow of her brain came after and she couldn’t control it — initially was too embarrassed to tell you and had nights where she would just walk to the bathroom and try her best to get off in the shower but it only got her so far before it wasn’t helping or doing enough and at this point she needed to actually touch you

౨ৎ That time she slept over and was sleeping on your couch, hoodie on her body with the hood up covering her face, blankets falling off of her body giving a full view of her sleep boxer shorts. When you walked by to go grab a drink of water around 3 am you could hear her moaning your name in your sleep.

౨ৎ is one of those people who seem bashful, sparky, and innocent throughout the day but in the sheets is the biggest freak ever, she becomes another level of unholy.

౨ৎ a breeding kink! Definitely owns one of the squirting dildos because she loves to watch the way liquids drip out of you when she’s done, will sit back pulling at your folds with her fingers with the shit-eating grin on her face that reads I did that

“Look at you~” “all fucked out for me” Ellie speaks coly and in between breaths as her head reaches down to put kisses all over your face.

౨ৎ Ellie likes to see how much she can get away with, smacks your ass, pulls you back by your belt loop, sticks her hand way too far up your thigh, moans high pitched in your ear during public settings

౨ৎ falls asleep with her hand on your boobs, god forbid she’s having a nightmare, she starts squeezing them in the midst of it.

౨ৎ makes dick jokes talking about some:

“My pullout game is not weak thank you very much, if that was the case we would have had a lot of children already”

When listening to rap music that goes into heavy description about fucking humps the air sometimes to the lyrics...not elaborating she's hella immature LOL

౨ৎ The minute the two of you go out and one of your friends says how she is a simp and how you have all the control in the situation, Ellie will make sure you know that she indefinitely has the upper hand. It’s like a switch flips in her head she gets so ruthless and so mean, she doesn’t want you to forget it either and fucks you until you can’t think

You will be moaning and clawing at her back as she pounds in a rhythmic motion in and out of you, her mouth would get so filthy, smirking as her fingers rub over your lips as she slips her thumb in for you to suck,

“but …do your friends know that you cry like this under me? that you look so pathetic under me?”

“Who’s in charge again cuz’ I fuckin’ know it’s not you”

“Are you cumming? Oh no you don’t…let me see you” “What if I just stopped right now?”

Likes to edge you, no doubt.

౨ৎ a switch likes to be topped or touched but also likes to be the top

౨ৎ whimpers whenever you touch her like a puppy, her eyes get glassy and her face gets red as she lets out low mewls of your name, and suddenly it’s like you’re an angel hovering over her and your touch is an addictive drug that she never wants to stop having.

౨ৎ Overall just the best girlfriend ever, with a combination of silliness and fun in one, a big ol’ dork that is really just obsessed with you.

taglist

@beforeimdeceased @starologist @destielcore @luvrgalore @ellsss @zahraaziza @emluvselandabs @abbyily @elliestrwbrry @mossc0vered @spacewlf @as2rid @spaceshipellie @lottiematthewsceo @emonopolyman @mikasbby @trulygnomed @machetegirl109 @munsonsfairy

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octopodeez · 7 months

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𝐒𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐬 (𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝐃. 𝐀𝐜𝐞/𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫)

Modern!AU where you end your vacation with a bang by hooking up with some hot guy at the bar.

(Alabasta Ace will always reign supreme ❤️‍🔥)

He must be a local. There’s a certain rhythm to the way he rolls his hips that you can’t find at home, and gyms near you don’t produce bodies like that.

One large hand is splayed on your lower back to keep you close, while the other balances on the brim of his hat to keep it from tipping as his nose brushes against yours. There’s a warmth radiating from him that balances the chill of the ocean’s breeze. It penetrates your skin and settles easily in your bones as if belonging there all along.

He spends a few songs with his strong thigh pressed against your cunt and you spend a few songs grinding on it before he buys you a shot of fireball. You admire him from behind as he leans over the bar a little too far, waiting for the bartender’s attention. There’s a large tattoo on his spine that you’ll likely never get to know the meaning of and, more importantly, dimples on his lower back that form a subtle V. His cargo shorts hang low on his hips despite his belt, and you think about how easy it’d be for him to yank them down and rail you here and now at this shitty beach bar.

When he returns with the shots, you expect him to make a cheesy frat-boy type toast as he clinks his glass against yours, but you’re pleasantly surprised when he simply gives you a toothy grin before throwing his head back, giving you a nice view of his adam’s apple. He chases it by licking into your mouth, lapping up the burn of the liquor on your tongue.

He tells you his name is Ace.

Reaching your hotel room is a struggle, and that thought of yanking down those loose shorts of his becomes more appealing with each wrong turn, but you finally make it and jam your keycard in the lock so hard it nearly snaps. Indignant to the rough treatment, the sensor takes three tries to click open. Perfect timing because you notice Ace was raising his foot to just kick the damn thing open. The door still doesn’t quite avoid his wrath, though, as he gives it a swift kick shut before nearly tackling you to the floor.

The rug feels hot on your back as your shirt rides up beneath him. He’s already patting down his pockets, trying to find what you hope will be a condom, and thank fucking christ, it was. The packaging is red and flimsy, telltale signs of being cheap, but oh well, that’s why god invented Plan B.

He holds the condom between his teeth for a moment as he undoes his belt and zipper. Transfixed by the sound of clinking metal as his open belt sways heavy against his upper thighs, you barely register your lips parting hungrily as he tugs down his cargo shorts to reveal he wasn’t wearing any underwear. The fact that he’d shown up at the bar shirtless had already driven you crazy, but now to know there was nothing separating him from the world except the shorts that hung so loosely on his hips? Fuck.

“No panties? What a slut,” you half-joke.

“Yeah, I’m known to be a filthy tease,” Ace replies dryly, but amused, as he tears open the condom. The film makes a flimsy crinkling noise as another reminder to grab that Plan B tomorrow. “And what about you? You gonna let me see what’s under those tight little shorts or what?”

Ace tilts his head to the side slightly, while fumbling to roll the condom on. Meanwhile, you realize you are about to fuck a man who is wearing nothing but a bright orange hat. Whether or not to omit this detail when you tell your friends about him is a decision best saved for later.

Shifting, you lift your hips slightly to wiggle out of your shorts and panties. Ace makes a show of gripping the meat of your thighs and spreading them to get a better view of your wet sex. He stares just long enough to make you squirm, but before you can start self-consciously fidgeting, his fingers move to trace down your slit experimentally. He seems pleased with the state you’re in now, but decides he can make you messier and dips one of his fingers in your cunt, pressing forward until his palm is nearly flush against you.

Ace hums as he crooks his finger and begins rubbing that nice little spot within you. Like flint to stone, it lights your guts on fire and has you arching to chase after his touch. Had you not been staring at the ceiling, biting your lip, you would have seen his eyebrows quirk in surprise at your response, and it briefly would have made you wonder if maybe he didn’t do this as often as his dancing suggested.

When Ace pulls his hand back, you make a small noise of protest, but then he wraps his hand around the base of his cock and taps it on your clit, all nice and heavy. Your whining becomes begging and soon he’s slowly spearing you open with his cockhead. The fire he lit within you earlier is now a full on inferno as he presses forward more and more, stretching you to your limits, and pushing him to his as he visibly struggles to maintain control. He’s quivering and sighing, trying to resist the urge to just fuck you in half right here and now on the scratchy hotel carpet, but under that cowboy hat is some mental barrier, and you quietly thank whoever put it there when she taught him how to properly fuck a pussy.

That being said, this is hardly a time you want to be even remotely proper, so you hook your legs around his waist and yank him to his hilt. Caught off guard, Ace hisses a few curses and buries his head in the crook of your neck, nipping the soft skin there in retaliation.

“Fuck, give a guy some warning,” he groans while righting himself and giving you a hungry once over.

“I got impatient.” The words come out far more confident than you expected them to, earning the look of irritation you hoped for. The hamster wheel in Ace’s head is shorting out because how the fuck were you not a blissed out mess now that he was fully plunged inside you?

“Now who’s the slut?” Ace finally replies, and he feels your walls flutter against him. A wicked grin curls over his features having unlocked such a valuable tidbit of information, and he says: “Oh, I see.”

Unable to think of a clever response, you simply huff and roll your hips. The motion lands somewhere between bratty and fucking needy, and you’re pleased to see the way his pupils explode. You do it again, harder this time, pulling a breathy groan and wider smile from Ace.

“You gonna let me do my thing or should I just keep playing sex doll?” His tone suggests he’s fine with either option.

You can’t help but laugh as you thread your fingers through his hair. For a moment, you forget the miles that will separate you soon and just let yourself enjoy how natural being with him suddenly feels. There’s something about him that’s familiar and new all at once, as if you’d conjured him from the scraps of your past partners’ best traits.

A well-timed thrust from Ace chokes off the sarcastic remark on the tip of your tongue. Another thrust draws a breathy moan from deep within your chest that’s quickly muffled by a kiss.

Ace is a multitasker, and consumes you with every part of his body. He’s everywhere all at once and having no trouble figuring out which nipple is a little more sensitive and what angle your hips need to be to get you to make more of those filthy noises. Every now and then he leans down to kiss you. He swipes his tongue over the seam of your lips and hums when you part them, licking into your mouth sloppily, filling another part of your body.

“I’m close,” Ace suddenly pants as his hips continue snapping into yours. He’s grinning like a very confident idiot for some reason and it’s the most endearing thing in the world. “I’m so fucking close,” he repeats with a little more intensity. “Jesus, you feel so good. Can’t believe such a little slut is so fucking tight.”

Ace then crinkles his freckled nose and shakes his head, all too aware of how unnatural he sounded as he makes the snap decision to focus on chasing his orgasm rather than make a joke about his shitty dirty talk. You bite back a smile, too, and tangle your fingers in the scruff of his hair to pull him in for another searing kiss. The way he unabashedly pants and groans against your mouth is way hotter than anything he could say, anyways.

Your nails scrape down his back, settling on those dimples that had your mouth watering earlier and it makes Ace’s hips stutter as he whines into your mouth, coming abruptly. He collapses on top of you and mutters something about how he wished you didn’t live so far away and then, to your disbelief the fucker falls asleep mid-sentence; cargo shorts tangled at his ankles, ass out, hat still on. Something about the gentle rhythm of his snoring and warmth against your skin makes you too tired to comprehend the ridiculousness of the situation.

Once more he has proven himself to be annoyingly endearing and it has you already planning your next trip down.

***

Hi, I’m the queen of shitty abrupt endings but anyways you leave his dumb ass naked on the floor and sleep in your cozy hotel bed then the next morning he gives you the sloppiest best oral you’ve ever had and you almost miss your fucking flight blah blah blah the end ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Also he eats your entire mini bar and you have to pay like $80 for a few bags of Cheetos but he apologizes so it’s fine I guess.

#portgas d ace #portgas ace x reader #ace x reader #portgas d ace x reader #fire fist ace #one piece #ace x y/n #reader insert #whitebeard pirates #modern au #one piece x reader

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nerdraging4point0 · 29 days

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Power Play // Chapter Eight // Hockey-Omens AU

Tropes and tags: RPF:AU hockey player romance, angsty romance, hidden relationship, forbidden relationship, smutty, MF, multiple POV.

Content Warning: angsty romance, hockey player shenanigans, locker room talk, smutty, aggressive hockey players, PinV, MF relationship, possessive male, protective male.

This work below is fictionalized ideas and stories involving real people but does not directly reflect their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.

Taglist(click to be added): @ladyveronikawrites @poisongirl616 @shilohrosechicken @th0ughts-pr4yers @meliferafaerie @curse-bearing-hips @letmeadoreyoux @transparentwitchnightmare @darling-millicent-aubrey @moranastray @cookiesupplier @concreteemo @collective-heartbreak @littlefoxkota @somebodyels3 @thisbicc @jakeygvf21 @cind6547 @lma1986 @loeytuan98 @xxkittenkissesxx @darkmxgician @sammyjoeee @malerieee @embracethereaper42 @nerdywitch20 @graveatspeople @sacredthefran @dominuslunae @skulliecadaver-blog @anameunmusical @thatchickwiththecamera @missduffsblog @jessicafg03 @lilrubles @iknownothingpeople @talialovesmiw @deathofpeaceofmiiind @shaydayhere @wild-child-7747

As I shuffle from foot to foot, waiting impatiently, the massive sphere looms over me, slowly turning to showcase the etched lettering that reads Universal Studios. The brilliant water show happening just behind me provides a melodic backdrop, but does little to soothe my growing unease. Across the way, crowds of excited guests pour through the front gates, many already wearing silly souvenir hats or clutching stuffed animals they bought. Their joyful shrieks echo from inside the park. But here I remain, alone, checking my phone again for any word from Noah who is now 15 minutes late. It would have been easier to carpool but I was so adamant on it only being casual I thought a car ride together would push the boundaries-what was I thinking? I crane my neck, scanning the constant stream of park-goers for any sign of them. Meanwhile, just down the palm-tree lined streets, casual shoppers laugh and chat as they drift in and out of kitschy gift shops and overpriced restaurants.

I stand conflicted, torn between listening to the voice in my head urging me to leave and salvage my pride or staying to enjoy the sunny day alone in the park. My mind races, replaying our last conversation where he promised to meet me here, yet now I wait aimlessly for a text explaining his absence. I shift my weight between feet, denim shorts swishing against my bare thighs as I kick at the sidewalk in frustration. Arms crossed, I glance around, taking in the groups laughing together on the grass while I wait solitary by the lot. With a huff, I turn to leave, chucks scuffing the pavement with each reluctant step. I make it only a short distance before pausing, a glimmer of hope making me pivot back. I fish my phone from my pocket, refreshing my notifications despite knowing the empty screen awaiting me.

Noah: Hey, traffic was terrible. Got our tickets online meet me at the front gates.

The text came in two minutes ago. When I was standing around contemplating my life choices, I feel like an idiot. Had he seen me stomping away? I take a deep breath walking down the red painted walk to the front gates. I spot him before he spots me, leaning on one shoulder against a palm tree closest to the ticket booth.

His casual look is simple but it’s making my insides swim and spin in circles. The shorts are a classic neutral that matches anything, hitting just above his knees to show off muscular, tattooed calves. His socks and shoes are bright white, like he just stopped by the store to get them specifically for today. On top stands out a bold red hoodie with the hockey team's logo plastered boldly on the front, impossible to miss in a sea of people. His focus is downwards at his phone, hand absentmindedly brushing over short brown hair, drawing my eyes to the fresh cut he got just this morning. The ends are crisp and clean, neatly trimmed in a way that shapes his head, sharpening his look.

“Hey,” he says as I close the distance between us looking up at me from behind his shades, “Sorry traffic was a killer, sometimes I am afraid my old ‘09 car is gonna crap out on the freeway.”

"No worries," I say self-consciously, as I begin tugging at the hem of my shorts and shirt in a futile attempt to cover more of the bare skin I had purposely chosen to flaunt just moments before. I'm not sure why I suddenly feel so exposed and vulnerable, wishing I had worn something more modest, but his intense gaze is making me painfully aware of just how little clothing I have on. As if sensing my unease, he reaches for my hand, gently interlacing our fingers together and giving me a reassuring squeeze. With a warm smile, he leads us towards the mobile ticket booth at the park's entrance. I watch as he smoothly pulls up the e-tickets on his phone, which the attendant scans before snapping bright yellow paper wristbands onto each of our wrists.

"Have fun!" she chirps cheerfully, waving us through the turnstile into the park. Still holding my hand securely, he guides me into the bustling crowd of families and thrill-seekers.

We scatter around the amusement park, darting from ride to ride but never fully committing to more than one at a time. Most of our time is spent waiting in the snaking queues, chattering away about anything and everything to pass the time. We debate our favorite movies - the epic adventures we could watch over and over and the cheesy romcoms we secretly love. We groan about the overhyped blockbusters that left us bored and disappointed.

The line stretches on endlessly, filled with eager witches and wizards of all ages clad in Hogwarts robes and brandishing imitation wands they had purchased at the souvenir shops. They jostle against each other, craning their necks to see how much longer the wait will be, too caught up in their anticipation to pay heed to personal space. I pull in on myself, trying to avoid the constant bumps and shoves from the overly enthusiastic crowd. Mumbling half-hearted apologies, they repeat the same motions over and over as they surge forward whenever the line moves an inch. Their reckless abandon grates on me, fraying my nerves until I'm overwhelmed by the suffocating press of bodies. Just when I think I can't stand it any longer, I feel Noah's hands encase my shoulders before he pulls me back against his chest. He crosses his arms around me, enveloping my tiny frame within the safe harbor of his embrace. Sheltered there with his chin resting atop my head, the chaotic crowd no longer seems so oppressive.

The hours fly by in each other's company. I walk slowly as I munch on the Minon Cafe nachos I purchased trying to get a generous amount of cheese, onions and barbeque on one chip. The savory blend of flavors bursts across my tongue with each crunchy bite. Noah stands next to me watching me munch on my food, his lips occasionally curving into a soft smile as he finds amusement in my puffed out chipmunk cheeks struggling to contain the mouthfuls of nachos. I return the expression with my own cheeks puffed out to maximum capacity, my mouth so full of the delicious tex-mex treat that I can barely chew let alone speak. The boys rush up to us without warning, their sneakers scuffing along the pavement. Two gangly teen boys with all the awkward acne and scattered facial hair that comes with puberty stand before us, the shortest one flashing a braces-filled smile as he and his lanky friend try to catch their breath after jogging to catch up with us.

"Hey man," the shorter one greets Noah, a slight lisp detectable as he speaks, "Love the hoodie. We're big Rooks fans." His eyes light up with admiration as they fixate on the sports team logo emblazoned across Noah's chest.

"Oh thanks," Noah replies, his smile broadening as he briefly glances down at the jacket he is wearing despite the intense heat, acting as though he had no idea he was sporting the coveted team merch.

"Whose your favorite player?" the other kid asks eagerly, practically bouncing on his toes. Noah shakes his head and I swear I see a little blush rise in his cheeks, his modest nature taking over. He reaches up and slowly removes the sunglasses from his face. As his identity is revealed, I turn back to look at the boys and see their starstruck expressions morph into sudden realization of who it is they are actually talking to.

The boys ask Noah for photos and autographs. He happily obliges, flashing his pearly white smile for selfies and signing various items. After a few minutes, the boys scamper off, thrilled with their interactions. Noah slides his sunglasses back on and turns to me with a grin stretching ear to ear.

"You seem to be a popular player," I joke as I toss my trash and brush the chip crumbs from my hands.

"It's not often I'm stopped without the team around," he admits with a casual shrug. "Puck bunnies usually," he adds. I involuntarily cringe at the mention of that term, memories of my reckless youth flooding back. I was quite the rebel in my teen years, making a string of poor choices with some of the players on my dad's college team. While I was never in it for the money or fame like those so-called "puck bunnies," I'd still made decisions I wasn't proud of, motivated by little more than teenage hormones and lust.

"You would think," Noah continues, "Being here there would be more popular celebrities to see than me." He shrugs off the comment trying to lighten the mood. I shake off whatever it is that bothers me and force a smile.

"Maybe they are all hiding," I say pointing to the studio tour ride. Just below the theme park are the studios where they often are filming - it's entirely possible celebrities of all types lurk below us without us knowing. Noah's face brightens at my suggestion and his eyebrows raise behind his sunglasses. His excitement is palpable as he takes my hand and drags me across the park to the escalators, paying the extra toll for the ride. I can't help but grin, caught up in his enthusiasm. We hurry onto the trolley, Noah helping me into the far back seat.

We're squeezed into the very back seat, thighs touching, the tour guide going on about the studio and celebrities we might see roaming around. I'm not even listening. I’m too focused on Noah’s arm draped behind me. His fingers drift lightly over my arm, barely making contact, but it's enough to make my heart race.

As the trolley trundles along through the winds and curves, I turn my head to gaze out the large open sides of the tram, feigning distraction while my mind races. I'm scanning the scenery with unseeing eyes, lost in a vivid daydream. In my fantasy, we sneak away from the crowds flocking through the park and slip into one of its shadowy alcoves, hidden from view. He presses me against the rough brick wall, his strong body pinning mine as his hands roam my curves. Our breaths grow ragged with anticipation and I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out as he drives himself into me, right there out in the open where anyone could happen by. My heart pounds at the illicit thrill even as my inner muscles clench around him. Just then, his deep voice breaks through my scandalous reverie.

"You hungry?" As I turn back, our noses brush in sudden proximity and instinctively I recoil. But his arm around my shoulders tightens, holding me close so that our lips nearly meet. I swallow hard, nodding my head dropping my eyes down to stop myself from staring at my own reflection in his black sunglasses.

“Here or downtown?” His free hand comes between us, his index finger tapping my nose before dropping down to cup my chin and tilt my head up to look at him again. I see myself staring back from his dark sunglasses, the faint sight of his eyes behind them, and I know I'm done for.

Noah’s POV

“Mmm, fuck, you’re so good to me, aren’t you little fox?” The subtle music from the shops of studio city provided the backdrop as we found a secluded corner shielded by palm trees and trash bins. My hands gripped her hips tightly, bracing her against the brick wall as I moved rhythmically, struggling to keep my shorts from falling. Her body pressed hard into the wall with each thrust as I hit that sensitive spot inside her, eliciting muffled moans from behind her hand clasped firmly over her mouth. Her nails dug sharply into my shoulder, urging me on as my tempo increased. We were lost in the moment, oblivious to anything but each other and the risky thrill. The distant chatter was drowned out by her gasps of pleasure, spurring me to quicken the pace.

“Fuck, I’m almost there baby.” I brought her down on my cock she rotates her hips to meet me with each thrust. Fuck. I can't get enough of this girl, she has me absolutely addicted in every way. From the moment I wake up, she is the first thought that crosses my mind. I find myself constantly daydreaming about her throughout the day, picturing her smile, her laugh, the way her nose crinkles when she's focused. I can't go five minutes without needing to touch her, to feel her soft skin under my fingertips. Her presence soothes me, excites me, consumes me. I want to talk to her all the time, hear her voice, her thoughts, her dreams. I've caught myself staring at her apartment balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of her, longing to see that cute, sleepy look she gets when she's just waking up. I'm not proud to admit it, but I'm utterly infatuated. When we're together, it's electric - the sex is mind blowing, earth shattering, unlike anything I've ever experienced. I can't get enough of her body, the way she feels, tastes, smells. She has me completely intoxicated, addicted, obsessed.

“fuck me, please.” The rhythmic panting in my ear spurs me on, driving my movements with an intoxicating urgency. Lost in the moment, I'm only dimly aware of footsteps approaching in the distance. But I cannot bring myself to stop, not when we’re so close.

Her skin is flush against mine, damp with perspiration from the sweltering summer air. As our foreheads meet, her face contorts in ecstasy, lips forming a perfect ‘O’ while her eyes roll back. She tightens around me, her body quivering. I wish I could freeze this instant, to imprint the exquisite sight of her unraveling in my mind. I come with one last thrust and we stand there, muscles shaking, breath heaving.

I catch my breath quickly waiting for her thighs to stop shaking before I am setting her down slowly, shielding her as she steadies on her feet, trying to bend at the waist and lift a shaky leg through her denim shorts.

Her delicate hand feels light in mine as I gently pull her out to the shopping center, people glance our way and I see her cheeks turn red. People have no idea what we just did, but I do and seeing her shy like this, I find it cute. I spot the burger joint and we slip inside and find a cozy booth by the window. The waiter takes our order - a juicy burger and fries for her, just a cold beer for me. As we wait, she becomes utterly engrossed in the football game blaring on the massive flatscreen above the bar. I watch her eyes light up whenever her team makes a big play. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and I find myself getting drawn into the game too.

In the back of my mind, I can't help thinking about my own team - how in just a couple days I'll be back on the ice with them, immersed in the sweat and adrenaline of competition. Part of me itches to be cleared for practice again, to feel the smooth feeling of the ice beneath my skates, to hear the swish of the net as I sink a perfect shot. But a larger part of me knows I'd rather be right here, in this moment, with her. For now, the game on TV is just background noise. The thing that has my full attention is the way she smiles at me from across our little booth, eyes shining, cheeks still flushed. This is where I'm meant to be.

#bad omens #noah sebastian #bad omens cult #noahsebastian fanfic #bad omens band #hockey player noah #hockey #bad omens au #bad omens smut #hockey romance #hockeyomens #hockey player!noah #badomensau #hockey!au #hockey player x reader #hockeyromance #bad omens bandom

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impishtubist · 8 months

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wolfstar divorce that coincides with the ineffable divorce, and they're all in the market for new boyfriends to shove in their exes' faces, so crowley starts dating remus and aziraphale starts dating sirius. hijinks ensue.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy. This is delicious and I am rubbing my lil hands together in glee. Here we gooooooooooooooooooooo.

Can you imagine. Can you imagine how horrible and miserable this is for everyone involved???

First of all, Remus is not a hedonist. Crowley pulls out all the stops, wines and dines him, and he's sitting there, waiting for this sandy-haired man in a soft cardigan to take that first sinful bite of food..........and there's no moan??? Remus doesn't close his eyes and make filthy noises around the fork??? He doesn't linger over wine and dessert??? He's just very perfunctory about the whole thing--eating's just something you do to stay alive, it's not something you do for enjoyment. Crowley is very upset not to get new wanking material out of this.

Meanwhile, Remus is expecting a badass and instead he gets.....demonic disaster Anthony J. Crowley. He drives a cool car, sure, but it's not a flying motorbike. And are those fake bullet hole decals on his window???? Oh my god what a loser. He's got a tiny snake tattoo on his face but that's it??? Where's the punk?

Sirius is also suffering. He found himself a nice soft mild-mannered bookseller who at first seemed like the perfect rebound boyfriend, but actually he's driving Sirius insane. He keeps getting himself into Situations and expecting Sirius to bail him out of them, and Sirius is Annoyed. And he keeps Sirius up until the wee hours of the morning wittering on about Oscar Wilde and Leonardo da Vinci like he knew them. Sirius misses his unhinged, feral boyfriend who was down to murder someone in front of three thirteen-year-olds at the drop of a hat.

The sex is excellent, though. Aziraphale is something else in bed, that's for sure.

Meanwhile, Aziraphale is missing his demon terribly. Sure, Sirius is tall dark and handsome, but he's actually a bad boy and not a loser demon masquerading as a bad boy. And that motorbike of his! Ugh, it's the worst. Aziraphale suggests going to the Ritz or to the theater, and Sirius promptly says he won't be caught dead doing anything posh like his dear mother would have. He also keeps playing terrible bee-bop around the shop.

Everyone's miserable and no one is having a good time. Adam, Warlock, and Harry need to team up to break up their disaster godfathers and get everyone back with their correct partners.

#imp speaks #whoops sorry to make you wait all day for this #good omens #wolfstar #ineffable husbands

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danwhobrowses · 3 months

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So I Finally Finished a Playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3

It's been months of playing over my holidays and the weekends, but I've finally completed my first playthrough of what was deemed Game of the Year for 2023.

As someone whose only D&D experiences come from the two movies (the bad one that traumatized me as a kid by killing Snails and the good one that deserves more love) and Critical Role, I didn't know much of what I was getting into, only my coworkers saying 'buy it, it's a masterpiece' unanimously when I inquired about it. Having no idea how to play or the lore, I was very much entering blind.

Continued down the Keep Reading

So, I'm sure we gotta get through the first set of questions so let's get to them.

What was your Tav? It took a long time to realise that 'Tav' meant your player character among fanpages, I can't tell you why it's Tav still, but I only pieced it together from Durge naming too. My Tav is Dec, short for December because that's when I started playing and I couldn't waste too much time on stream thinking up a clever name. He was a High Elf Guild Artisan, for Class I started as a Beast Master Ranger, ironic that Ranger is deemed one of the lesser classes among the community, I was adamant to not use archery at the start but by the end of it I was a Crossbow Expert. I went 9/3 with Rogue to get Assassin, but then respec'd my Ranger into a Gloomstalker, since I never really summoned the bear (probably should've learned from Sam's constant dissing of Trinket eh?) plus when I remembered Dread Ambusher it gave me 3 attacks on the first turn. He has combustible blood thanks to Araj and some tadpole powers after consuming them after the creche incident made him more open to trusting the Dream Visitor; Charm - which failed 90% of the time - Psionic Backlash, Favourable Beginnings and Luck of the Far Realms used mainly, I had Stage Fright and Force Tunnel but didn't use it, same for Cull the Weak. Likes to talk things through, especially with Persuasion/Charisma buffing invisible hats. Has the Duellist's Perogative Sword and the Swire's Sledboard Shield for Melee, and the AC bonus, plus the Armor of Agility giving him an evasive 24 AC with Advantage thanks to 20 DEX and the Cloak of Displacement.

You can't see his scar and tattoo too well from here but I had to show off his Black Furnace and Red dye on his armour it looks too good. Here's a better look of his face:

For his tattoo and scarring I like to think he got the tattoo after the burn, in some ways distracting it from the scarring.

Did you Save Scum? Don't Lie to Me! Yes and I'm not sorry about it. If you wanna invite me to a D&D table I'll follow the rules and how the dice lands but there's a lot more wiggle room there than in a game where there's finite dialogue options. I was also not going to sit there and let my companions turn against me just because the game fancied throwing continual Nat 1s or low rolls at me, nor would I let Omeluum die in the Iron Throne, or end up leaving the Mirror of Loss empty handed. I bought the game so if I wanna carve this experience this way I shall carve it this way, I get some people see the Morally Good path as boring for this kind of gaming but I like to be good, it feels good, and I want good things to happen for my allies, even if it means having to undo most of their religious indoctrination. But, it did take a while for me to start save scumming, really it was freeing Halsin that started it but it didn't become regular until Auntie Ethel. I only really did it for dialogue/lore expansion (or when there were two dialogue options I was between which I hoped would be interpreted how I expect it to) and for necessary buff rolls like the Mirror of Loss, but sometimes I did it to keep some key NPCs alive like Jaheira, who died at Moonrise the first time.

Who did you usually team up with? Kinda a harem squad since I had Lae'zel, Shadowheart and Karlach. I was very combat-oriented; Lae'zel adding support to Karlach's melee or Dec's ranged combat while Shadowheart made up for most of the magic with heals, summons and like 100 scrolls in her bag (Dec horded about 100 different arrows and poisons too, sometimes pays off). I respec'd her to Light Domain after the Nightsong stuff to fit her character and hair change - though I must admit I preferred the black hair - and gave her my Adamantine Splint Armour for defences plus the ring and Balduran's Helm for +5 healing each turn. Lae'zel was a Battle Master, clad in the Helldusk set, though I didn't use much of her Superiority dice moves; the enemies often made saves against it even with 18 strength (20 after the mirror of loss, and higher at endgame thanks to an Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength), I relied more on her brute force, plus reaction skills like Executioner and Sentinel, plus the Silver Sword of the Astral Plane. Karlach was a 9/3 Bear Heart Barbarian and Champion Fighter, I did respec her for the Feats but the Bone armour, Balduran's Greatsword and Brutal Jump also helped at times, plus the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength and the Amulet of Greater Health made her a high damage, near-200 Health-on-Rage machine (over 200 thanks to the +30 extra health at the final battle). I tended not to swap around a lot, I couldn't abandon my healer, loved Karlach's personality and I had sentiment for Lae'zel being the first person I encountered, she has the sad eyes too, but I did do some rare switching for personal quests. Initially I started with Astarion, but that's because of a misunderstanding of who Karlach was - more on that later - and it turned out that I wasn't doing much for stealth, I brought him for Cazador though, much like I brought Wyll for Ansur and Gale for the Book of Karsus. Later in Act 3 I played around with dyes and equipped everyone, out of fear that I may be sprung unprepared like with Orin - Halsin only had a torch - by all campmates joining the fight, it didn't happen but everyone at least looks stylish.

I go between whether I like Wyll's colours though, on one hand he looks like a Templar and the white would stand out in Avernus, other times he looks like a cosplayer XD Minsc and Jaheira needed no dyes the colours already suited well, but I do love the colours I chose for Astarion, Halsin and Karlach.

Who did you fuck? (romance) Probably would've been asked sooner but sadly Dec became an unintended bachelor, at least outside of the headcanon. He did share a night of passion with Lae'zel after freeing the Emerald Grove but it wasn't something he wanted to pursue further, our dynamic was more befitting of two soldiers, or at least a dynamic where we think we're the General and the other the Advisor. Had Shadowheart took 'later' for her drink offer as 'I want to see all the dialogues other characters have first' rather than a refusal there might have been a romance there, instead I feel we fell into a more sibling bond, she can be a bit too sassy at times in passing dialogue - I had hoped to see more development with her and Lae'zel eventually being friends. Wyll did his best to throw sad puppy eyes at me when I refused to dance with him but it just made things more awkward, Gale meanwhile probably was gonna make moves when teaching me the Weave but he was very hung up on Mystra for me to entertain it, I sat with him when he felt the mortal coil though. Astarion I think made a passing suggestion but nothing of substance, Halsin left it late after he got kidnapped by Orin - I didn't realise he had to physically join the party to be a part of the group until Act 3 - coming onto me right before I confronted the Brain which was quickly turned down. I believe Minsc and Jaheira are unable to be romanced atm, and I did not fuck the Emperor; it weirded me out that he just was there shirtless chilling next to my unconscious dream state. We killed Minthara, didn't know you could recruit or romance her in a Morally Good path. Which left Karlach, fuck did I want to romance Karlach, not for lack of trying either; but because when I met Wyll he was talking about killing her I immediately assumed 'oh Karlach must be that woman on the cover with him' (aka 'the bitch who could've been cool if she wasn't such a bitch' Mizora, who I also wouldn't have romanced given the option) and stuck a pin in it, I was also unaware that most Act 1 romance stuff would come to a head at the end of the Emerald Grove quest which I prioritized so I only encountered Karlach after I saved Halsin and the Grove, meaning I couldn't reach Dammon until Act 2. By then Karlach seemed to be locked out of romance, perhaps for another misunderstanding on my part too since I did upgrade her engine twice at Lost Light very swiftly, but it still was a knife to the heart after all that and the date at the circus that she called us 'just mates' to Fytz. All this and then they give us a better kissing patch ¬_¬

Yes so sad, anyway what about ~Astarion~? Astarion is popular, and I know why he's popular, and the scene of him killing Cazador was very well done...but Astarion for me though was just fine; I mean you guys see Karlach right? Part of the reason she stays my group was that I can't bear to part from her. A lot of the times my Morally Good options didn't align with Astarion's brand of pessimistic chaos, so he spent a lot of time in camp as I mispronounced his name until I heard it be properly said, which probably hampered his story a bit more, but we had a close enough friendship that he heeded my advice with the Ascension and the spawn, wish he reacted to me getting a painting of him since he can't see his reflection though, felt like something could've been done there. Jaheira was a fun personality too, angry old lady who says it like it is, kinda wish we had more to her quest, seeing her home and her interacting with her wards/children was interesting, Minsc was charming too in his simple way, would've been cool if he had more of a presence as well, like we could hear about Minsc and the Stone Lord in separate lights earlier in the game to build up to him. On that topic, I was surprised to find that there wasn't a companion for each role, I suppose there were constraints but Aylin and Zevlor both worked as Paladins, Alfira a Bard (though I don't think anyone would dare put her in the line of fire), I suppose there's little need for a Sorcerer when you had a Wizard or a Monk when you had a Fighter and Barbarian but it was strange, you get 2 Druids and your Ranger is built more like a Fighter or Barbarian (the latter I added to Minsc). I'd later learn that there was cut content for a halfling companion who was a werewolf, but I can see why that one was cut, with Chetney and all, but yeah not any halflings, Barcus could've been a companion even without the Artificer class, or a Dragonborn.

So how did your story go? Being the Morally Good Guy I was I went through most of the best options I could, but I also tried to avoid combat earlier on when I was struggling to work with it. I was friendly with the Goblin Camp for starters, since they thought I was with the Absolute and Dec is willing to put shit on his face to avoid conflict, it all went tits up after freeing Halsin and having to kill everyone but it may've had some benefit to how I could walk freely through Moonrise. Ironically it was the same with the Githyanki, friendly up until they wanted me to hand over the prism, though the Creche was a lost cause anyway, they're lucky I didn't ransack the place, could've gotten a lot of xp and loot there. I let Viconia live, so she can dwell on that burn Shadowheart gave her but oftentimes I was not so merciful, do wish I didn't kill that one Sharran with the letter of hating being there though, why'd you fight me girl? Same with the Bhaalist with the parents at Elfsong, and the goblin children, I was using nonlethal but arrows don't count as I'd soon learn. Allies were mostly good-to-neutral creatures like the Tieflings (though I wish I saved more, nobody told me about the harpies and I thought convincing Rolan to stay would mean the Grove not the Shadow Cursed Lands - also why send refugees who struggle with goblins through the SHADOW CURSED LANDS?) and 90% of the Ironhand Gnomes because fuck Wulbren - I didn't like Barcus too much at first, thought him rude, but when Wulbren didn't even show gratitude for his attempts I softened to him. Kindness made me quite the enemy to others however; the infernal naturally did not appreciate my deeds of pact breaking but saving the Duke anyway and pilfering the House of Hope, but to be fair Raphael (and his clear portrait of himself I clocked onto immediately when he was in his human guise to know he was untrustworthy) never repaid me in-game for 'killing' Yurgir, and Mizora would've squirmed a lot more in her Ilithid pod had it been a table interaction - though, the latter two were more than willing to help me with the Absolute, 'cept Raphael because he's dead - but in my defence I loved outwitting and being a sassy little shit to demons. Slaying the Chosen was a given, as a very Pro-Karlach guy I was never letting Gortash live, got the Father/Grandfather-Daughter set with Bhaal too. Killing the former Balduran was disappointing; as much as he was on my side he always felt like he had his own ulterior motives, he also had a superiority complex to him with his constant urging of being half-Ilithid; thinks it's not important that he's Balduran either, dismissing Ansur's legend until confronted by Ansur's spirit. Stealing the Orphic Hammer was an insurance policy at first, I could understand Voss' disdain for us using Githyanki Jesus in a box like a forcefield, but it's a shame that the guy who was all about trust decided not to trust me in releasing Orpheus; we could've stopped the brain together! Omeluum would've heard me out. I mean Orpheus was a bit salty but he at least was willing to negotiate and not immediately side back with the brain like a petty bitch. I'd say the gods have mixed feelings with me; friendly with Selune and Lathander at least, and whatever Withers is - though the guy roasted me about my love life. The rest either neutral or anti; Shar and Vlaakith (if you can call her a god) definitely hate me, because they're sore losers, think Myrkul and Bhaal likely hate me, Bane however seemed to respect game not sure how I feel about that. I don't quite like Mystra, think she's a bit extreme with her treatment of Gale, but I understand her role, valid god but shitty person. On the other hand I probably have Cyric's favour for helping the Strange Ox, which might be bad...but Milil was happy to be recognized.

In the end, most of the allies got to live somewhat happily; Gale got the orb out of him and became a professor, Lae'zel - having dealt the final blow to the brain - leads the charge against Vlaakith after Orpheus became a Mind Flayer and was mercy killed, Shadowheart has her family (Shar would've always been with her regardless of her choice), a bunch of pets and can maybe reminisce with Nocturne again one day, Jaheira and Minsc - once he survives Zhentharim execution, didn't realise I needed to have him talk to Nine Fingers - also can rest with her wards and probably share drinks with Nine Fingers until the next fight, Astarion sadly has no cure for vampirism but he is owning it and killing the right people (I like to think he'll get to see the sun again, maybe Omeluum and the Mycolids help), plus Halsin has a bunch of kids in Moonrise to look after, plus Thaniel, Oliver and a new Owlbear who I'd rather had left with Dammon given the option. Isobel and Aylin can settle down, Rolan runs the Sundries, Hope is free, Alfira and Lakrissa got their bard's school, Florrick and Ravengard resume leadership to rebuild, Dammon has his forge, Scratch found a new home in this Mindy (but I remain best master), Mol I'm sure will be running the Guildhall in a few years, Thrumbo has a shelter for his brothers, Mayrina will raise her son without the threat of a hag, Vanra won't become a hag (but does need therapy), and Arabella will probably be the next Withers after reading some more rocks. Yenna didn't seem to have an ending so I'll assume that she found a loving home too, maybe with Halsin or as one of Jaheira's wards, or maybe Gale wants a Sous Chef since she did bring her own carving knife if you didn't know. I wish Alfira got invited to the epilogue, god of song is fine but not the familiar face and it would've been cool for them to meet, nice to get a letter at least, and we'll have to visit Art's grave sometime. Surprised we got no word about Mizora, I didn't get a letter from Geraldus even though he survived, Naaber apparently had more in him after wanting to be a dog, sad not to get anything from Rolan, Devella (I know Valeria mentioned her but c'mon), the Gondians, Mol, Omeluum, or Aylin and Isobel from the epilogue, did we really need the ramblings of Ettvard? Plus the papers must've glitched they said Stelmane's killer was still at large? Post-credits scene felt a bit weak mind you, but guessing Withers is that old God of Death Jerghal? Least he's not a surprise villain to fight. As for me, well, I was never one to give up on people and neither is Dec, and thus Dec and Karlach brave Avernus to seek a fix for her infernal engine, punch a few demons and whatnot, Wyll is there too as the Blade of Avernus, a role he embraced twice after barely contributing to killing Ansur but that's more proximity. We'll chill in the House of Hope especially after her letter, but soon enough we'll all return to Faerun on a more permanent basis.

So you enjoyed it? Yes, very much. I did of course make a lot of mistakes though; kept forgetting about Dread Ambusher for one, my earlier failures at romance still stung, I think the game wasn't as welcoming to those unfamiliar to it. The dice did not like me many times, I once got a Nat 1 in a 2 DC with +2 bonus, I also have had several instances of back-to-back Nat 1s, even had 6 in two different streams. Combat was an adjustment period, I missed a lot of the time which was frustrating, or the enemy would make saving throws on my gambits, Karlach even got pushed into the abyss at the Temple of Bhaal, I was livid. I think I probably would've experienced more if the game established better that you can long rest as much as you like without turning into a Mind Flayer, because much of Act 1 was me reluctant to Long Rest because they say you can change 'within 2-3 days', as a result that affected some romance options too, nobody to spend the night with if there's no night, as well as other in-camp interactions - Astarion never tried to bite me for instance, and I'm sure Raphael would've arrived to reward me for killing Yurgir had we not dealt with a backlog of interactions. I remained quite the hesitant player too, I ignored Gale stuck in a portal for a while fearing some magical backlash was gonna vaporize me, oftentimes I expected worse than what actually happened. Graphically there were a few characters whose cheeks were being pulled to the far left side of the map which was weird, and some battles would have enemies who would just do nothing for their turns, and some areas didn't render quick enough to not be noticed, but it was small stuff in comparison, I didn't do much for camp clothes or dyes until late on but probably for the better since style should be for the final act. I also keep seeing stuff that I somehow missed in my playthrough; like there's an angry squirrel near the grove? A frog in Ethel's house? A bird who wanted help with the giant eagles? What? Where?

What was the most difficult part? Act 3 had a lot of tough shit going down, though one of my most memorable struggles was against Auntie Ethel in Act 1. Already deep in her domain at lv4 it was a rough run to start with, continually hit by Hold Person by her projections, only when I learned they were one-hits did it become a little easier, but without Extra Attack it was still difficult. After that combat was here and there, sometimes it was just the environment like being jammed in a pipe when fighting Minsc; Lorroakan was annoying, Grym I had to be tactical with the hammer, the Assassin at the Facemaker was quite difficult too because he'd Haste himself and hide. The Death Shepherds in the Mountain Pass were surprisingly difficult without the Blood of Lathander, much easier with its Sunbeam. The companion quest final battles of Cazador, Ansur and Viconia were each difficult in their own way; the former was most annoying because my party would be downed but the thrown healing potions weren't working (plus those downed members were the ones with Radiant damage and holy water), wasn't even Bone Chilled like with Viconia, Ansur was difficult because of his burst attack. Raphael hits fucking hard, but once I realised that Hope kept dying because she was getting backlash from dealing Radiant Damage it was just attrition and lots of potion throwing. Combat-wise I think the toughest battle was Cazador due to the glitch of thrown potions not healing, otherwise the toughest boss was Ansur. Overall the most difficult experience I found was the timed operations of the Iron Throne.

Will you play again? Most likely, which is something I don't tend to say so Larian did do their job well. Though I might wait a bit to play other games first and give Larian time to add more content and finer polishing, I think I'd have a better time with it the second time around, would definitely try to resolve previous wrongs or missed opportunities, though I doubt I'd look forward to everything there; killing the Goblin Camp was still difficult work, same with the Steel Watch and all the turn limit stuff, I'll at least wait until I have Extra Attack before dealing with Ethel in Act 1 and take more Long Rests, maybe rotate the party a bit more and try out some other classes - but you will pry Speak with Animals out of my cold dead hands! Learning later about there being a bunch of cut content would entice me to play a third time if they reach a stage where all the intended content has been added in, but there's not exactly a time frame for that or a clear show of intent so far, so we'll see in that one, for all that is cut it seems like the end product is the tip of the iceberg. Enjoyed the play, played for a long time, would play again: money well spent.

#baldur's gate 3 #bg3 #larian studios #karlach #shadowheart #lae'zel #astarion #jaheira #minsc and boo #minsc #halsin #wyll ravengard #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #bg3 tav #bg3 withers #it wouldn't have killed larian to give us more dice skins too just sayin'#but I loved that they added little messages in the credits

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thetrashbinseries · 5 months

Text

— Fahrenheit Part Three ( bangchan x reader )

rated - mature | minors dni

parts - one, two, three

warnings - idol universe, name changed idols (ones unrelated to skz), mature themes, drug use, alcohol use, sexual themes, mentions of mental illness, slight angst, internet bullying and harassment

x x x

The biting chill of New York City doesn't stop the crowd from forming outside the Mixer nightclub. Glittering dresses cling to shivering bodies, and the line snakes around the corner. Men with cross earrings, edgy tattoos, and silky updos chat, their breath visible in the frigid air. My Uber Black rolls up to the front, and I observe the scene.

Despite being a newcomer, I am now qualified to step into this world. Retrieving my phone from my black clutch, my coffin-shaped nails tap out a message to Jake.

outside now

As I glance out the window, I ponder if the Uber driver's patience stems from the luxury vehicle or my personality. People treat you differently when they think you have something they don't – that disingenuous feeling irks me. I haven't changed; I am still the same person without a record deal or viral singles. The driver doesn’t even likely care that far—if I’m paying for an Uber black, dressed the way I am, I must be somebody.

Rarely stepping out, recognition brings a wave of anxiety. Medication eases my nerves tonight. A text from Jake illuminates my screen.

out front?

yeah where else would I be?

private entrance in the back.

He double-texts.

ill get you from there

“Oh?” I voice my surprise. Leaning toward the driver, I request, “Can you take me to the back, please? This is the wrong entrance.”

With a nod, the driver obliges, and we pull away. Eyes follow the tinted windows, curious about the occupant. The relief washes over me; a private entrance awaits.

As we circle around, a black door with a colossal bouncer in a sleek black suit comes into view. Standing over six feet tall with broad shoulders and flowing black hair in a ponytail, he exudes an imposing presence. Stepping out of the truck, I smooth my little black dress. I hate dresses.

“Hi,” I greet the bouncer with a friendly smile and wave, but his stoic response hints at slim chances of entry. There’s no way he’s letting me in here.

Just as I am about to ask, the door swings open. Jake emerges, looking more expensive than the other night at my house. In a satin cream-colored outfit, he leaves the top unbuttoned over a black tank. Sunglasses push into his styled hair, makeup accentuating his eyes and flawless skin.

“What’s up, beautiful?” he greets, arms outstretched, a confident smile on his lips as he embraces me. I pull away, handing him his knitted hat from my clutch.

“You almost had me fucked,” I say, referring to the way he carelessly left it at my place, after being adamant about no evidence of another guy being there.

“Aww, sweetheart, if he didn't fuck you after flying across the country, I hope you're here to tell me you two broke up.” Jake chuckles, taking the hat.

“You know what I mean,” I reply through clenched teeth. “It’s freezing. Take me inside—”

“Jake?!” A girl's voice jolts me. “Jake Wong?!” Two girls emerge, probably aware of the private entrance and eager for a chance encounter. The bouncer moves to intervene, but Jake waves him off, effortlessly engaging the girls in conversation.

One of them jumps excitedly, phone in hand. “Oh my god, can we get a photo? Please? I'm obsessed with your new album!”

The other rambles on, “I went to see you on tour twice! In Dallas and in Jersey, do you remember me? We met afterwards at the hotpot restaurant!”

“Of course, I remember you, beautiful. How could I forget such a pretty face? Come on, let’s take a group shot.” Jake signals the bouncer to be their photographer, dropping his shades back over his eyes. He positions himself between the two girls, arms around their shoulders as they hug him closely, posing with big smiles and peace signs.

“It’s cold out tonight, you should keep yourself warm—here.” Jake hands one of the girls the knitted beanie, and she can barely contain her excitement as she steps in place.

Officially never have to worry about that again.

I slip into the club before anyone else notices me. Being photographed with Jake would only attract more attention, and I'm not a k-pop idol; it would only lead to unnecessary questions.

Chris would've advised against coming, but he's not my keeper. Jake is a good friend, guiding me through this lifestyle. Chris, who spends most of his time in Korea, can't offer the same advice as Jake, who's immersed in American media.

Speaking of which, I get a notification on my phone.

babydaddy: *2 attachments*

babydaddy: it rained last night and the streets looked like that painting in your bedroom

babydaddy: I know it's random, but it’s real artsy. Might try my hand at photography hahaha

Cool air rushes in as Jake returns. He pushes his glasses back up atop his head. “Sorry about that, you good?”

“Yeah, I just... these places give me anxiety. Too many people, you can hardly move, you know? I don’t really club anymore. It’s not as fun as it used to be.” I hold my phone close.

“You don’t have to worry about that with me. The VIP section here doesn’t get like that. Come on, you've been in that house too long.” Jake takes my wrist, and I follow him, glancing at my phone and opening the photo attachments from Chris.

Wherever Chris was when he took the photos, it’s empty, the dead silent of night. It looks like an alleyway, with neon signs and storefronts. Their glow reflects on the pavement like glittering lucky coins.

A small smile stretches my lips, and I lock the phone, almost tripping and ripping my wrist away from Jake, slapping his arm. “Careful, asshole!” I chide. He shoots back, “Get off your phone and maybe you can be careful too.” He’s not wrong.

Now, back in my environment, I notice a red rope blocking an open doorway. The music is louder, and I wonder how much louder it can get once we’re inside. Were clubs always this loud? I can hardly remember. I’m not that old, am I?

Ugh. This might totally be Jake’s thing, not mine.

Another bouncer. I know their job is to protect the wealthy and influential, but do they all have to be so massive? Where do they find these guys? He steps aside, unhooking the rope by its golden clasp, and I enter, this time voluntarily clutching onto Jake’s arm and pressing my body as close to his as possible.

Sure enough, the VIP section, and this club in general, is a dazzling spectacle. Talk about over-the-top—the mirrored ceilings above the booths reflect the money and gold bars encased in the clear flooring. Crystallized lighting sconces stand outside each booth, offering an option to be covered by a curtain, with lavish black velvet couches inside each. In the darkness, I can't discern individual colors; it's so dark that I'm surprised Jake can navigate us to his table. Even the sconces emit a barely-there, almost tea-light glow.

As I arrive, I see several other folks sitting around—some laughing and talking, others engrossed in their phones. Suddenly, a strange and familiar voice pierces the music, prompting me to let go of Jake as he greets another artist.

Oh, I know this guy. Well, I don’t know him, but I sure do recognize his wavy hair and tattooed arms and hands proudly displayed on the visible parts of his skin showing from his wifebeater top.

“What’s up, Jake?! Inju said you were here, I said—I gotta go say what’s up to my boy!”

It’s an infamously problematic former idol that runs in these circles parallel to Jake in America. Known for shameless and repeated counts of cultural appropriation from black American culture, amongst other questionable moral offenses. He was all but exiled from Korea years ago but seemed to have become even bigger on his own in America and internationally too.

“Good to see you, Ray,” Jake replies, confirming my suspicions.

Ray Park. I look around, but I see no flashes, no cameras, not even any phones directed in our direction. I’m still paranoid about being seen in any close proximity to Ray. I’m quite vain to believe anyone really cares that much about me, but because I’m new, I wanted to observe from the background more than anything else. See how things moved around these parts. I quietly step away while they converse, giving them privacy as I sit down on the couch. About an arm’s length away, there’s another girl. She’s beautiful, a girl with long black hair that falls into her lap. She’s on her phone, and I figure I might have a chance at talking to her to at least figure out where the alcohol is at. A little liquid courage could do me well right now; I feel way too uptight.

“Hey,” I say, raising my voice over the music as I lean over to her. She looks up with wide, glitter-lined eyes, her phone illuminating her blue dolly lenses. “You know where I can get any tequila?”

“Oh yeah! Gimmie a sec.” She jumps up, maybe a little too excitedly for the request, but I figure, that must be her personality. She seems cute. She tugs at the bottom of her silver dress to adjust it before she sidles over to the other side of the couch where a white guy in a fitted cap is sitting. I can see a tattoo going down the side of his neck, but otherwise, he’s pretty covered, including sunglasses. Something about him gives me stay away vibes. She whispers something in his ear, and he affirms her, standing up and nodding to Jake before leaving the section.

I'm confused; what does that mean?

She sits back down, smooths out her dress, and opens her clutch, pulling out what appears to be a very unusually tiny compact mirror. Maybe it’s the size of a quarter? No, that can’t be a compact mirror; it would be impossible to—

To my dismay, she dips the tip of her stiletto pinky nail into it once she flips the lid open and brings it to her nose, taking a big sniff and wriggling her nose after, sniffling a couple more times before dabbing her nose with the back of her hand delicately.

I immediately avert my gaze.

Oh, I’m in the trenches.

I start to feel uneasy. I pull my phone out and bring up my thread with Chris. I quickly type out a reply.

if you become a photographer, Hyunjin has some competition, those are gorgeous. I kinda wanna get them printed in canvas.

cute way to admit it was raining and you thought of me

I’m thinking of you too ;)

I tuck my phone away, feeling a bit more settled. Suddenly, there’s commotion on the opposite side of the VIP section. The DJ is playing air horn sound effects back to back, and then Jake’s newest single starts booming throughout the venue. He walks over to the balcony and begins waving, and I can hear all kinds of screams. I do love this song, and he’s certainly in his element, which I love to see. I stand up, unable to resist a good groove, and I inch my way out from the couch to have standing room.

More airhorns sound, and a bright flash emerges above the heads of everyone else. I'm confused for a split second until I notice they're sparklers.

“Oh shit?!” Jake exclaims, looking back at some members of his crew. “Which one of you?”

“Your girl!” a guy exclaims, pointing at me.

My eyes widen as I catch the error in his identification. Not only am I NOT Jake’s girl, but I am NOT responsible for the bottle girls making their way over here with what appears to be four bottles of…

Casamigos

Tequila. But I didn’t mean--

I immediately shoot a look at the girl from earlier, but she’s already hugged up on another guy on the couch, holding her finger under his nose as he takes a suspiciously long, hard sniff. Jake enthusiastically embraces me, and I already knew he had been drinking, but now? It’s going to get worse.

“Jake, this is—a lot of attention. I didn’t know you were a special fucking guest here tonight.” I say close to his ear so he can hear me and just how annoyed I am. “I told you me and Chris just made up!”

His arm is around my waist as he leans down to pick up one of the bottles, already fitted with a metal spout. “What? You're not allowed to party without asking your stray kid?” He laughs, throwing back what looked to me to be quite the lengthy pour. “I’m kidding, I’m sure he wants you to have fun too, or is he a controlling, abusive boyfriend?”

“It’s not that, it’s just—“

“Open up,” he says, tilting his chin up at me as he holds the bottle in front of me. “C’mon, girl, live a little!”

I do want to drink. In fact, I’m the reason why four bottles of fucking tequila came prancing into the section to begin with. It’s private up here anyway; I’m being paranoid. This is what I convince myself.

I’m not doing anything wrong.

This is what I keep telling myself whenever I’m doing questionable shit morally.

But why do I keep challenging my morals?

What the fuck even are my morals?

Shaking my head, I let my head fall back, I open my mouth, and I take in as much tequila as I can manage before it’s just completely gross. For some reason, this gets the other nearby people cheering, and they too, start passing the other bottles around and pouring shots into glasses and each other’s mouths.

“Look at you, fucking rockstar.” Jake says, his nose nuzzled into the hair by my ear. I’m not sure what gives me the chills, his words, or how he says them.

“Yeah yeah, I know.” I say with as much strength as I can muster, parting our bodies. “This place is pretty cool, the music’s hot. The people--” I don’t finish that sentiment as I look around at the questionable few that I’ve seen thus far.

Jake can’t stop moving; he’s not full-out dancing, but he’s moving around with an excellent sense of rhythm. It’s got me laughing and moving with him too, spinning me around and catching me just in time before I lose my footing. He leans to my ear again, “You should see the downstairs; it’s fucking huge.” He steps back, his eyes widening as he puts his hands out to show the growth in size. He then jerks his head to the balcony. “Here, let me show you.”

I join him at the balcony, feeling the buzz of top-shelf liquor in my loins. I’m not exactly thinking straight. People start cheering again, and I quickly have a knee-jerk reaction as if I’ve made a terrible mistake, but I don’t know why. Jake leans over the balcony, pouring out from the bottle onto expectant fans below. It’s probably not getting in anyone’s mouth; they’re all just collecting at the wall, clamoring to get a drop poured onto them. I try not to make it obvious as I back up into the safety of the darkness, out of the view of the general public below.

This celebrity shit is exhausting.

I just wanna get drunk and shake my ass.

I don’t even wanna do this part. Can’t I just make music?

“Hey beautiful, I don’t think I got your name?”

Once Ray Park approaches me, I know I’ve about had enough of this scene. I force a tight-lipped smile and nod at him. “Y/N.”

He mispronounces it for confirmation.

“No, Y/N” I say a little more clearly.

“Your name sounds familiar, what, you a singer or something?” Ray inquires.

“Yeah, kinda.” I say before I hurriedly add, “I gotta go to the bathroom. Nice meeting you, though!” And I beeline for the door that we came into earlier. Once I’m in the empty hallway, I feel like I can breathe, not even realizing I was holding my breath. I can feel the alcohol settling in more, and it’s getting a bit tough for me to fake sober. I can feel the inhibitions disappearing.

I should smoke. Yeah, I should smoke so I can think out my next moves. I step out the door and nod to the bouncer who steps aside, and I take out my pre-roll, cupping my hand to spark the flame that engulfs the thin paper twisted end of the joint before disappearing with a couple of light puffs from my lips.

I have to leave for LA in two days. Eli, and the rest of the band members are going to meet me out there, at the rental house. It’ll be nice to see Eli again, and get out to perform again, which is what we love doing the most. We’ll have a couple of meetings too, with the label. That’s the part that’s gnawin’ at me. Music reviews, suits with no rhythm telling me what to change, make it more palatable to everyone but me. I take another drag and my phone pulls me from my runaway thought train. I can feel my heart skip a beat, like I’m a child with a crush.

Stumbling slightly, I retrieve my phone from my clutch.

Damn, did I drink that much?

I blink away the drunken haze, opening my notifications and clicking on the message.

babydaddy: Oh, I don’t know about that, baby. Hyunjin's really good, but thanks lol.

babydaddy: yeah……you got me, I’m definitely thinking about you hehe.

babydaddy: I think about you when it rains.

babydaddy: It’s late over there, you’re still up???

I lock my screen, dropping my phone to my side as I take another puff. No immediate response; the right words elude me.

When a familair call breaks the silence. I roll my eyes and answer.

“If I lose you one more time tonight, I swear to God—”

“What? You swear to God what?” I kiss my teeth. “I told you, being the guest of the night, I can’t hang.” Glancing around, I lower my voice, “Shorty on the couch was doing coke off her acrylics. And Ray Park was there? I’m calling an Uber.”

“You for real right now?” Jake's voice struggles against the thumping music.

“I’m out, Jake. You know where to find me. Call me sober, and not a second sooner.”

I end the call, shaking my head with disappointment. Swiping to my Uber app, I call for a ride back to Jersey, the driver just four minutes away. Moving down the alley, I hold my coat tight, shielding myself from the icy wind that pricks my bare thighs.

My stomach grumbles, a mix of emptiness and a craving for something satisfyingly awful. The tap of my heels leads me to a corner where a man grills hot dogs and sausages. Only one person ahead of me, the tantalizing smells engulf me.

“One with everything, please.”

“Spicy or not?”

“Not spicy, please.” “You were at the club tonight?” he asks, looking up only for a second before returning to his task, arranging my hotdog. “It’s early to be going home, no?”

I chuckle, “It’s eleven at night! That’s late.”

“Ah well, not here. Usually, I have line way down the street at three...yes at three everybody is ready for sleep all day.” He gestures behind me.

“Your food must be good then.” I say, impressed with his narrative as he hands me my meal, wrapped neatly in foil. I give him cash, tell him to keep the change, and with the buzz of my Uber arriving, I bid the hot dog chef goodbye. Walking a few paces to a black Escalade, I disappear into the backseat.

Relaxing only when the door is closed, seatbelt secured, I sit back with a sigh.

“Y/N?” The driver confirms.

“Yes.”

The Escalade cruises through the city, leaving the club and its wild allure in my rearview. The smell of street food wafts through the air, and I feel the warmth of the hotdog in my lap. My FaceTime rings, and I glance at my updated contact photo of Chris—black and white, his bare back on full display as he sits on the opposite end of the bed on his phone, completely unaware of how beautiful parts of him can look candidly.

Something simple, but it was sexy to me. His goofy emojis make my dopamine surge, and I answer without hesitation. "Oop."

Changbin's face appears, eyes wide, hand covering his mouth. Another head pops into view and disappears too quickly to identify, accompanied by muffled exclamations of "Oop" and "Ope." Changbin, the apparent culprit, glances off-screen guiltily.

He begins in Korean, and my rusty language skills catch words like 'phone,' 'really,' and 'answered.' I respond in both English and Korean, demanding answers. "Yeah, I answered! Why do you have Chan’s phone? What did you do?" The chorus of surprised sounds echoes through the call.

"Your Korean is so good!" Changbin exclaims in English. The phone is snatched away, and I hear Chris' muffled voice through his hand covering the speaker. I can't comprehend the words, but Chris quickly switches back to English, apologizing for the chaotic background. "Oh my God, baby, I'm so sorry about that. They start drinking and turn into monkeys, all of them," Chris explains, his voice slightly higher and choppy with movement. The camera blurs as he paces, and suddenly, a door closes, casting the room into darkness. He flicks on a switch, revealing a studio in the JYPE building.

"It's early to be drinking over there, right?" I question.

"That's what I said!" Chris exclaims, finally settling on a black couch. He tilts the phone toward himself, leaning back. "What're you all done up for? You in a car right now?"

"Just went out with a friend, tried a club in New York. Wasn't my thing," I casually reply, avoiding details.

"Ah," he nods, bringing the phone closer. "What club was it?" Jesus fuck why is he asking me all these questions?!

Chris excels at conversation, delving into details with his myriad of questions. It's never intrusive, just genuine interest. "Club Mixer," I respond, watching his reaction through the screen.

"Hmm, sounds kinda familiar. Was it cool? Bump into anyone interesting?"

"Nah, no one mega-famous or anything." I glance out the window, shrugging. "Getting too old for this kinda thing."

"Same here."

I snort. "Come on, you're practically a baby. Your age talk kills me."

"'Cause I am old! I'm twenty-seven, almost twenty-eight. In Korea, I'm already twenty-eight!"

"I thought they ditched that system."

"They did, but I'm still pushing thirty." He's insistent. "I mean, in the real world, that's young. But in K-Pop, I'm..." He chuckles, envisioning younger idols. "I'm climbing up there." His gaze returns to me.

He's got makeup on, just enough to alter the look of his eyes. Dressed in a deep-cut sleeveless shirt, hair tufted above a designer sweatband, two small silver hoops in his ears.

"I'm a cougar then."

"I mean, cougars are hot."

I laugh, and a chuckle from the driver makes me more aware of my surroundings. Peering out, we pass willow trees lining the street near the grocery store minutes from my home.

"Almost home, beautiful babygirl?" He sings, unusually animated.

“Cap, cap.” I wave my hand.

“What?” he asks with a laugh.

“That’s cap, you’re overdoing it. Did you have something to drink too?” I lift a suspicious brow.

“Are you speaking Gen Z at me?” Chris’ laughter increases. “No I didn’t have anything to drink, someone’s gotta keep things under control around here. You do look gorgeous though, I mean that. Wish I was there with you.”

He holds back a smile, licking his lips. "Not a guarantee, but I might be in LA while you're there. How long are you staying?"

"A week. Leaving this Sunday."

A series of knocks startle Chris, and he yells back. Once he identifies the visitor, he turns to me, "Oh, it's Felix. He was out earlier. Wanna say hi?"

"Oh, sure!" I reply. Talking to Chris's members like this isn't my usual thing. Felix is the one I've chatted with the most, thanks to our shared mother tongues, but the others, well, we've had our interactions, even if they involved a lot of Papago (I'm looking at you, Minho). They were a bit awkward, understandably, knowing this wasn't the norm. Still, they supported their friend, their leader, their brother, and just kept to their business, willingly oblivious unless I was around. But I rarely went to Seoul, it's easier to fly under the radar here in America when we’re together.

"Felix? You can come in," Chris calls. The driver slows to a stop at my driveway, and I rush out to get into my home. Giving the driver five stars and a tip, I open my front door. "Hello!" Felix's voice comes through. He waves with a smile as he sits down next to Chris, running his hands through his blonde hair. "How have you been?"

"Good, good, just working on album three. Lots of extra steps now, now that the label’s involved and stuff." I say, matching his enthusiasm.

"Yeah? Chan showed me a little bit of uh—what was it called again?" Felix turns to Chris, nodding to a rhythm he's established from memory. "Gatekeeping the best parts of you from me." He sings, two octaves deeper than the actual song, but I laugh as Chris snaps his fingers, recognizing the tune.

"Constellations!" Chris exclaims.

"Yeah, that's it! Oh, it's so catchy. I'm excited to hear the new album," Felix says. "I still see your songs on TikTok all the time when I'm scrolling. I send them to Chan when I see a really good one."

Chan looks up thoughtfully as Felix talks. "You do send me some really good ones."

"Yeah, but the last few you didn't respond to."

"I didn't? Maybe I forgot. You send so much sometimes. I don't have enough time to go through it all."

Watching them banter keeps me entertained as I take my heels off and sit down on my bed. "You can always just send them to me, Felix. I'm chronically online too," I joke.

"That's not a bad idea. Y/N likes to game too."

"Yeah? What do you play?"

"Oh, he knows I barely have time these days, but I get lost in Stardew Valley, Pokemon, Apex—"

"You play Apex?"

"Occasionally, like I said, when I get a chance." I laugh.

"Who do you main?"

Chris interrupts, "Alright, alright. I'll give you her number, and you two can continue this conversation later. Felix, did you need me out there?"

Felix stands up, "I just brought home food. We're about to eat, if the others didn't already get to it all by now."

Chris lets out a pained groan and sigh. "What is it?"

"BaeBae's Kitchen." Felix rocks back and forth on his knee on the edge of the couch as he awaits Chris's decision.

"I'm not really hungry, but put some away for me?"

"Yeah, sure, no problem." Felix leans down to wave to me once more. "It was nice seeing you again! Enjoy your night!"

"You too, Felix!"

He leaves the studio, and Chris sits back, watching me for a bit on the camera. "Looks like you're back home."

"Mhm, finally." I rest my phone against my bedside lamp as I stand up and work on unzipping my dress. "Did you eat today yet?" I ask, my back turned as I peel out of my dress. I know Chris's appetite is as poor as mine. Sometimes, we just get so busy and stressed that we forget to eat altogether. Friends have had to physically pull me from my computer when I'm hyper-focused, so I'd go to the bathroom and eat something. Chris is no stranger to this method of work. He works similarly.

"No, not yet," Chris replies hesitantly.

"Then you should go eat with the others." I bring my arms to my bra, unclasping it. "You're not gonna eat the leftovers, be for real."

"You're giving me a strip tease and telling me to go eat. Is this a test? 'Cause I'm failing it. Bad."

I look over my shoulder, holding my bra to my chest now that it's undone, and I come over and pick the phone up, safely showing myself from the shoulders up.

"Go eat," I say, firmly. “Now.”

"Fine, Fine." He stands up, stretching his arm over his head with a sigh before he perks up again. "Alright, babygirl, I love you."

"I love you too."

the next day... I'm barely aware of my phone buzzing. Ignoring it, I turn my head, burying it under another pillow. A heavy, gross feeling engulfs me. How long have I been asleep?

The relentless buzzing continues, jolting me awake. My sleep mode has shut off, and notifications flood through at an alarming rate.

Now, my brain is too active for peaceful sleep. I sit up, blinking, rubbing the crust from my eyes, squinting in the darkness. Have I slept into the next evening? Holy shit.

I touch my bedside lamp, dimming it to let my vision adjust. Pulling back the thick comforter and sheets, I expose my bare legs to the cool air. Why did I leave the thermostat so low? I shuffle to the door, pressing the red button to raise the temperature. With a yawn, I pick up my phone to see what's happening.

Great. Did another song go viral? Instagram and TikTok have hit my icon notification limits. I have eighteen missed calls and 88 text messages.

Well, at least the messages aren't hugely overwhelming.

I open Twitter first, a bad habit. As soon as I'm in, I see myself massively tagged, far more than usual. Pulling up the tweets attached to my name, I feel like I could pass out.

"Omg, look, she's in the VIP too."

"So here's the tea: her name is Y/N, and she's the singer in a shitty garage band called Living to Die."

"Bffr Living To Die is not a garage band, Don't Go is a bop."

"She's fucking problematic as fuck?! She tried to break up Stray Kids! Now she's trying to ruin Jake Wong too?!"

"They do anything for clout lmfao, ugly fat bitch."

"How did she break up Stray Kids?"

"Stray Kids isn't broken up. That's a lie made up by cupcake stays who don't like Chan. Lee Know had to go to the military."

"It happened with BTS, and look at them now."

"Jungkook is hella successful, fym???"

"She's the reason why Lee Know went to his military service early."

"Ur making shit up atp Lee Know went in with everyone else."

"Look!!!! I knew I recognized her. Here she is outside JYPE building last yr, Channie got so much hate for it!!!! She doesn't even care, or she wouldn't keep following all these idols around!! She just wants fame for her band."

"Desperate hoe lmfao."

"#keepY/Nawayfromidols."

"If she is the reason why Chan isn't posting on Instagram anymore, I'm gonna fight her ong, he's going through enough :("

"She should kill herself before she fucks up Jake Wong too."

"She used to be a stay; she's just delulu. She's stalking Chan atp lol he doesnt want her or he would tell stays." “Channie tells us everything~~”

"shes fuckin a known sasaeng." “Channie deserves to be happy if he’s in a relationship let him be! He’s an adult???? Be SO fr yall” “whats a sasaeng?”

"Make it make sense u stupid bitch Chan was literally with her at the building; why would he be there if she's a fucking sasaeng?" “A sasaeng is a crazy idol stalker” “She fits the bill ngl lmao”

"Chan deserves better. I don't like Jake Wong, but he deserves better too." “GUYS STOP SPREADING RUMORS!!!! Chan doesnt have a girlfriend!!!! Stop being TOXIC STAYS! Ur giving us all bad names, vote stray kids for VMAs 2027!!”

"I think they were at the Billboard Music Awards together when Stray Kids performed two years ago. They could have met there."

"What an ugly disgusting bitch. I hope she dies lol." -

My hands are shaking so bad; I drop my phone to the floor. I can’t read anymore. I don’t even know how I’ve read this far. My skin is clammy, and I feel prickling all over. I rush to the bathroom and heave over the toilet. First, it's a little from last night's hot dog, then I'm dry heaving yellow bile from anxiety. My body breaks out in a vicious sweat. When I'm done, I drop my head back against the wall.

And I cry.

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